Earth Facts for Kids
The Earth is the air we breathe, the ground we step on, and the water we drink. The planet Earth is a very fascinating place, as it is believed to be the only place in the universe that can support life. There are hundreds of other facts about the planet we call home. In this blog post, we have compiled a list of some of the most interesting earth facts for kids. So, what are you waiting for? Jump right in and start learning!
The Earth in Outer Space
Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is located in outer space between Venus and Mars. The distance between the Sun and the Earth is over 91 million miles! That’s really far!
Earth is considered one of the four terrestrial planets, meaning it has a rocky surface. Earth is made up of a lot of sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks. Can you see any rocks on the ground from where you are?
Earth Facts for Kids About Size
The planet Earth is the fifth largest planet with an average radius of about 3959 miles or 6370 kilometers and a surface area equivalent to that of Africa! Wow! That’s a big planet!
Earth’s mass is approximately five times greater than all other solid bodies in our Solar System combined – even more impressive when considering how little Earth actually takes up space compared with these objects!
Earth Facts for Kids About Temperature
The average temperature of Earth is 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius). What do you consider to be the perfect temperature for you?
The planet Earth has an inner core, which is the deepest point within the Earth. Since it is so far down, it has never been explored hands-on. Do you want to be the first person to explore it? I suggest not. The Earth’s inner core is estimated to be about 9,392 degrees Fahrenheit (5,200 degrees Celsius). That’s really hot!
Liquid water on Earth’s surface boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) and freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-0.44 degrees Celsius).
The Physical Properties of Earth
Some people call Earth the “blue planet” since there is so much water. The surface of Earth is about 71 percent water.
Earth has a number of layers. The four main layers include the continental crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
Earth has many mountains but the highest mountain on Earth is Mount Everest which is 29,029 feet or 8850 meters high! That’s a lot taller than you!
The Earth is split into hemispheres: the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere, the eastern hemisphere, and the western hemisphere.
Earth Facts for Kids About Rotations
Earth orbits around its axis once every 24 hours and rotates counterclockwise at a speed of about 1000 mph (460 meters per second). Can you imagine spinning that fast?
Earth completes an orbit around its star once every 365 days for us humans because we live on land but not so much if you are out there floating through space where a day is a year long!
Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.439 degrees which means that different parts of Earth are exposed to the Sun during different times of the year, resulting in distinct seasons. What’s your favorite season?
Earth Facts for Kids About the Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor!
Earth’s ozone layer protects us from harmful ultraviolet rays from the Sun.
Facts for Kids About Earth’s Moon
Earth is the only planet known to have life on it! How cool is that? The first humans who ever set foot on Earth were from Africa – specifically east Africa near Kenya.
Earth has one moon which we call Luna or Selene. The Moon was created when a large object called Theia slammed into Earth about 50 million years after Earth formed.
The Moon orbits Earth at an average distance of 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers) and completes one orbit in 27.322 days.
The Earth And Us
Earth is the only known planet to have life on it! What do you think about that? Do you think there is life on other planets?
Humans have been living on Earth for about 200,000 years! In that time we have come up with some pretty amazing inventions like cars, planes, phones, and computers!
The first animal domesticated by humans was the dog which means that Earth has been home to dogs for about 15,000 years.
Earth Day!
Earth Day is on April 22nd. It is a day to celebrate Earth! Some people celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up litter, planting flowers, or just spending time outside. Have you ever celebrated Earth Day? What did you do?
The next time Earth day rolls around, I want you to think about these fun facts. Can you remember what gases are in the Earth’s atmosphere? How about the size of Earth? Can you remember how massive the planet truly is? It’s almost 8,000 miles across!
How about how hot it is? The inside of Earth is nearly 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit while the Earth’s surface is only 59 degrees Fahrenheit. How is that possible?
I wonder how it’s possible that the planet Earth is the only planet that supports life. Do you agree with that or do you think there are other planets out in the solar system that support life? We have water, land, and plants to support both humans and animals. We learned that humans have been around for almost 200,000 years and dogs have been around for about 15,000 years. Are there other humans out there? What about other dogs? Where are they out in the universe and how are they surviving? Do they look like the aliens we depict them as? What if they look like us? What if we all have a twin out in another universe? We may never know for sure if there are other life forms on other planets. One thing is for sure, though, the Earth is a very mysterious, fascinating, and interesting place. What was your favorite fact you read about? Make sure to share it with a friend!
READ MORE FUN FACTS ABOUT EARTH DAY HERE.
